So Finn is pretty good in the car. I can't quite tell if he finds it enjoyable or stressful at first....he will be keen to get into the car (I have to pick him up but he goes right up to the door and sometimes puts his paws on the fender) but he will whine for a few minutes at the beginning of the ride. I can't quite tell if he is just frustrated he can't go anywhere except the back seat (he loves whining when he can't get somewhere he wants to go or is in confinement such as in the crate or kitchen). Eventually he settles and lays down. However he will often move about to find a good spot. On longer rides he will sleep. He shows no sign of motion sickness. It DID improve a bit....at first he cried for the whole ride. Now he just cries just a bit at the beginning depending on how aroused he is. I thought it would have stopped at least by now but it hasn't Any tips on the crying? It's a bit stressful to me a.) to hear as it's grating even though it's not loud, and b.) I hate hearing him cry because it makes me feel like he's not happy and that stresses me out, even though I know riding in the car is good for him and we are going places he always enjoys.
My pup used to have a little whine the first few mins of a journey. Recently, I suppose over the last fortnight, and she's now 22 weeks, she just settles straight away. I didn't used to say anything to her when she whined, just let her do it, then she'd settle, like your boy does. If he used to cry the whole ride and is now only doing so for a short time it would suggest he's on the right path. I wouldn't be concerned and I think the advice is to ignore the crying. It will probably stop completely but if it stresses you out, and I understand why it would, and you give off signs of stress, he may be picking up on it so just try to be chilled yourself!
Over the years most of our dogs have cried when introduced to the car. We found that short journeys to somewhere nice overcame their worries.
All my pups have cried in the car at first. I find cushions in the crate help. I do really short two minute journeys to start with. I can't stand the sound either! ...
Finn sounds exactly how Dexter was....in our case the problem was me! It usually is to be fair I realised Dex was quiet until I started talking to him ,asking if he was ok? So I stopped because of course he was ok! I just used to get in ,start the car up,put the radio on and set off.He wasn't entirely comfortable though ,he wouldn't sit down for ages and I couldn't tell him to sit down as it gave him attention and he would start to whine .This was ok for me because we do very little distance driving but still couldn't have been comfortable for him.Now he sits and looks out the window on our way out and flops down and sleeps on our way home .I'd try giving no attention and ptractising short journeys with nothing fun at the end ....even if you just drive round the block a few times a day x
Harley used to be a nightmare in the car, to the stage that I was pulling my hair out. I tried everything from feeding her in the car, just pulling off my driveway and back on, driving up the street, driving around the block. I used a calming spray and it helped. I started taking her on a drive to the garage, or the shops so she didn't get really excited thinking we were going for a walk everytime we got in the car. This really helped.
I shall try this @Naya. I don't know why I haven't tackled it before. It seems to be getting worse, he's making me stressed - which I don't normally do! I also have trouble with an overexcited dog in the car. He starts at the bottom of our road and whines, yelps & barks, spins around and quite honestly, he's driving me insane. It all sounds like excitement rather than stress. I've tried not reacting. I've tried shouting. I've tried praise in the odd quiet bit. He's usually much better on the way back home. We are only ever really driving to a walk or to dog school - both are super exciting.
Charlie was a worry wart in the car he would drool it was awful, I think because he had been transported so many times as a rescue , so I would just get him in sit in the car with the engine off for a few minutes, did this a few times, then just started the engine, again did this a couple of times, then drove to the bottom of the road and home. Gave him lots of treats and praise, then worked it up to taking him to the top of the hill for a walk - bingo, he gets in the car no problem x
Yes, it depends why they are restless. My Cavaliers were terrible - it was excitement. But with my pups it has been a worried unsettled, so very small journeys to start with did the trick.
Thanks for the responses guys! It's super helpful to hear how other pups have progressed. From day one I haven't responded to him if he cries. I just give him a lift to the back seat, jump in, and turn on the radio to relieve my OWN stress at his crying (and I always listen to music in the car). If we're at a light or stop and he's laying down and being quiet, I'll give him a quick pat. So, only attention if he's being chilled. At first I brought treats and gave him one if he was being quiet and sitting. I hope the behavior "extincts" as they say, like Plum's mom's pup. I just worry that the whining is a "self rewarding" behavior
